First baby of decade arrives at 28 seconds past midnight

WITH a loud cry, the first Irish baby of the decade arrived at Waterford Regional Hospital at 28 seconds past midnight.

Weighing in at nine pounds and 15 ounces, Ava Hennessy from Ballymacaw, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, became the first new Irish citizen of 2010.

A little later at one minute past the magic hour, six pounds seven ounces Baby Harvey was born at Mount Carmel Hospital in Dublin to mum, Tanya Heatherington and her husband, Stephen Kelly from Dun Laoghaire. They already have a two-and-a-half year old daughter.

“All went well and it’s nice to have the accolade of the first baby of the decade. I wasn’t expecting this at all as the baby wasn’t due until January 5,” Tanya said yesterday.

The first baby born in Cork was at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) at 12.16am. Jennifer McCarthy’s baby Stephanie weighed in at 9.1lb.

The second CUMH baby was born to Vincy Varghese and her husband Albert. Baby Aislinn was born at 2.28am. Vincy and Albert, from Kerhala in India, live on the South Douglas Road. “We are so happy to have this position in Ireland. And we’re delighted with our little girl,” Vincy said.

In Kerry, the first baby of the decade was born at 4.09am to Avril Sheehan and her husband, Paudie Spillane from Killarney. Their little girl, Milly weighed in at 7lb 14oz.

“We are just over the moon to have a healthy little girl. We always said that if we had a little girl, we’d call her Milly. She’s doing well as is Avril. It was a much easier birth than the last time when our 14-month-old Jack was born. Yes, we’re going to be busy but we have great family help,” Paudie beamed.

And in Dublin’s Rotunda, their first baby of the decade was born at 00.38am to Iwona Karnasiewicz who is originally from Poland but living in Celbridge. Iwona’s baby boy was 8.9lb.

At the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street, Carmel and Pat O’Neill’s baby girl was born at 12.13am. Dad, Pat said they were “delighted” at the honour of being born on New Year’s Day 2010 but again, their first priority was the healthy arrival of baby Tegan.

“It’s exciting that she was a New Year baby but it’s even more exciting that we have a healthy little girl. Carmel is doing well too,” he said.

Carmel and Pat’s baby weighed in at 9lb 5oz. The couple live in Castleknock.

Co Limerick’s New Year baby was born at 2.51am at St Munchins Regional Hospital. Laura O’Neill and Joe Kiely from Bruff Co Limerick named their daughter Ava, who weighed in at 7lb 3oz.